Catholics hurl petrol bombs

2009-07-13 20:32

Belfast - Militant Catholics are hurling firebombs, fireworks and other makeshift weapons at Northern Ireland police in opposition to a Protestant parade passing through the bitterly divided north side of Belfast.

An Associated Press reporter has witnessed the crowd in the hard-line Catholic district of Ardoyne throw about a half-dozen Molotov cocktails at riot police. The security forces are trying to clear the way for a parade by about 1 000 Protestants from the Orange Order brotherhood and their accompanying bands.

Police have responded with charges by club-wielding riot police and water cannon blasts.

Monday's violence at Ardoyne was the worst during daylong parades by the Orangemen, an anti-Catholic fraternal group.

- AP